On the fourth day of Christmas

For Day 4 of our Good News at Christmas, I've chosen a story which is sad, inspiring and remarkable.

Empathy and compassion can flow both ways

"Tragically an incredibly brave fellow bowel transplant patient had passed away a few days earlier. It hits all us bowel transplant patients very hard when one of the family doesn’t make it.

You see, because there are so few of us we are a family. We share the successes and collectively feel the pain. That family feeling doesn’t just apply to fellow patients. Right in front of my eyes I was seeing the pain and upset felt by the transplant team and my surgeon. Our surgeon.

Patients who can try in some way to understand and empathise with what their doctors go through can often be better patients."

You can read this story on Patient Opinion

What this story means to me

I love this story for 2 reasons.

First, it’s beautifully written and conveys the shared humanity and warmth in a long term doctor-patient relationship.

And second, I happen to know Michael, the author. Meeting him earlier this year was a truly humbling and inspiring experience.

Ben

If you tweet this, please use hashtag #poChristmas. Thank you!